Harmonic recognition is a core human trait that first appears in children between the ages of two and five. Although unique to the human experience like language, it must be cultivated through education if ability is to grow. A visceral understanding of diverse relationships in a complex system is only possible in the ear - something that should be practiced by the young and the old.
In all ecosystems, manmade or not, harmony must be present in some manner in order to maintain its overall stability. Harmony is not only simple consonance like the musical octave. There are an infinite number of harmonic relationships within the spectrum. Because diversity is essential for the long-term health of any system some dissonance will inevitably occur. The balance is having enough consonance so that the world makes sense. A keynote. A perspective. The human perspective. Thus both are essential: diversity and understanding; specifically the understanding of harmony.
Cultural diversity is somewhat like biological diversity in that way. In natural ecosystems, homogeneity is disastrous for long term health. A single predator can find and exploit a weakness in an un-adapting, homozygous clan. Innovative thinking, practices and solutions come out of polymorphous perspectives.
Harmony is the essential incubator that enables diversity. Diversity is an indispensable component of survival.
[Video:
World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale]
